Drake and Rihanna led the field with five nods apiece. The latter was heavily featured on Drake's album "Take Care," and the two frequently spur speculation about their relationship (most recently when Drake's and Chris Brown's posses erupted in a champagne-hurling brawl, reportedly over Rihanna). The two will each compete with Brown in different categories, Rihanna in choreography and Drake for male video.

The snub? Lady Gaga, the figurehead of last year's ceremonies, got zero. She was eligible in two categories and earned much early praise for her extravagant, cinematic art-epics. Is this another sign she's slipping in the pop milieu? The always-eventful telecast takes place at Staples Center on Sept. 6 and will feature live performances by Alicia Keys and U.K. boy band phenom One Direction. The full nominee list is below. Staples Center vendors would be wise to keep their champagne service to small plastic glasses only.